Interesting Animal Facts: All About Insects

Learn little-known facts about different kinds of bugs

Everyone can test their knowledge of the natural world by reading up on some interesting animal facts. Brushing up on nature trivia with interesting animal facts is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon over summer break, or any other time you want to break out of the boredom rut. Share some of these fascinating facts about the insects that roam our gardens and forests with young children as a fun, educational activity.

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Did you know there are over 10 quintillion different types of insects in the world? Experts say there are as many as 10 million species of insects on Earth, and scientists continue to discover more species every year. Here are some interesting animal facts about insects to share with any nature lovers in the family.

1. Insects have four specific characteristics in common. They have three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen); six jointed legs; two antennae to explore the world around them; and they're cold blooded, which means they lay eggs.

2. Ladybugs have the ability to create a chemical to ward off birds and predators in their environment.

3. The Goliath beetle is the biggest bug in the world. It can weigh up to 3.5 ounces and grow to be more than 4.5 in. long.

4. A cockroach can live for up to nine days without its head.

5. The longest insect in the world is the stick insect; the females can be over 14 in. long.

6. Ants are the most social of all insects, which is why they can build such amazing colonies.

7. A caterpillar can grow nearly 27,000 times the size it is when first hatched over the course of its lifetime.

8. Fleas can jump 130 times their own height.

9. Most insects can carry up to 50 times their own body weight. This is why you can see ants and other bugs shuttling sugar cubes, breadcrumbs and other large pieces of food so easily.

10. Honeybees need to visit over 2 million flowers to make a single pound of honey; a single hive usually visits nearly 250,000 flowers per day.

11. Tarantulas have the longest lifespan of all insects. The Mexican female tarantula can live up to 28 years.